Side brick for fire-box arches



May 27, 1930. J. E MUHLFELD SIDE BRICK FOR FIREBOX ARCHES Filed Dec. 23. 1927 1 Patented May- 27, 1930 JOHN E. MUI-ILFELD, OF SCARSDALE, NEW YORK SIDE BRICK. FOB FIRE-BOX ARC'HES Application filed December 23, 1927.

This invention relates to side brick for firebox arches, and has for its general object and purpose to provide a simple and durably constructed reversible side brick for the arch 5 of a furnace firebox provided with means whereby such side brick will be adapted to and adequately supported between one of the supporting arch tubes and the side sheet or tubular wall of the firebox or the sides of a 0 siphon or other intermediate water leg or tubular wall of spaced parts.

It is also another object of the invention to provide a side arch brick adapted to be arranged in an obliquely inclined position between the arch tube and the firebox wall and formed at the sheet engaging end thereof with parts afiording horizontally spaced points of contact between the brick end and the surface of the firebox sheet, whereby tilt- 0 ing or rocking motion of the brick will be more eifectually prevented.

It is a moreparticular objectof the invention to provide an arch side brick which is reversible and is provided between said spaced parts which contact with the wall of thefire box with a wing or web which is relatively thin in comparison with the body of the brick and is adapted for engagement on a trunnion or other suitable support fixed to the side 0 wall when the brick is reversed and arranged ina horizontal position, such trunnions and the reversed position of the brick being employed when the distance between the side tube of the arch andthe firebox wall is com- 35 paratively wide. i

It is also a further general object of the invention to provide such a reversible side brick for firebox arches which can be pro-' duced in large quantities and at low manufac- 9 turing cost with great rapidity andis of such form and constructionthat when assembled with theother bricks of the arch, either in its inclined or horizontal position withirespect tothe firebox wall, maximum stability and 5 efficiency in operation will be obtained.

VVithithe above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved side brick for firebox arches and in the several novel structural features thereof as will be 1 hereinafter more fully described, illustrated Serial No. 242,025.

in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subj oined claims.

. In the drawing, wherein I have shown one simple and practical embodiment of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a plan view, the side sheet of the firebox being shown in section and illustrating one of my improved side brick arranged in a horizontal position between said side sheet and an arch tube;

F ig. 2 is a sectional View taken substantial ly on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the brick;

. Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but showing the brick in a reversed position and obliquely inclined with respect to the firebox sheet, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are views showing a modified form of brick in the two positions shown in Figs. 2 and 4 respectively.

For the purposes of the present explanation, it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate and describe a complete arch wall, as these arches which direct the products of combustion from the firebox against the water evaporation surfaces and hence to the fire tubes, are quite well known in the art. While my present construction of arch brick is more particularly designed for use in connection with locomotive firebox arches, it may also be advantageously employed in stationary boiler fur naces of various types. In the drawing, I

V have shown one of the outer water circulating arch tubes 5. Three, four or more of these tubes may be employed depending upon the size of the firebox and upon the same the arch wall extending longitudinally from the front water leg and terminating in spaced relation to the rear water leg of the firebox is supported. This arch wall is composed of refractory brick and consists of a plurality of intermediate rows supported upon and between the series of water circulating tubes and the side rows of brick which are supported between the outer side tubes and the side Walls of the firebox, one of which is indicated at 6 in the drawing. In some cases, the tube 5 is spaced from the side wall 6 for a distance of 16 inches while in other cases where the firebox is of less width or a greater number of tubes are used, this space is about 13 inches or less. When the wider spacing is used, the side brick of the arch wall are arranged in a horizontal position and are supported at their outer ends upon trunnions indicated at 7 which are welded or otherwise suitably attached to the side wall 6. Obviously, these side brick cannot be arrangedin the horizontal position when the distance between the side wall and the arch tube is less than the length of the brick, and in such case they must be arranged in an upwardly inclined position with their outer ends resting against the side wall and their inner ends positioned upon the water tube. My new form of the side brick may be mounted and arranged in either of th s two positions with the assurance of a substantial support therefor so that it may not be easily dislodged from its assembled position in the arch wall.

To the above end, I provide the side brick 8 which slightly tapers in thickness fromone end to the other, and at its thicker end is formed at the opposite sides of its central median plane w'th transversely extending concave surfaces 9 and 10 respectively, providing seats for engagement upon the upper surface of the water tube 5. At its opposite end, the refractory brick 8 is formed with transversely extending semi-circularly curved faces 11 meeting at their inner ends at 12 on the transverse center line of the brick. These transversely curved surfaces are also longitudinally rounded or convex as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The inner opposed portions of thes transversely curved ends 11 of the brick are integrally connected with each other at one side face of the brick by a web indicated at 13, the outer edge of which extends on a line tangential to the major diameters of the end faces 11. The line of juncture 12 between the inner ends of the convex faces 11 of the brick and the intermediate surface of the web 13 extends in an obliquely inclined plane as indicated at 14.

\Vhen the side tube 5 is spaced 16 inches from the side wall 6 of the firebox, the bricks 8 constituting each outer side row of the arch .wall are adapted to be arranged as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the concave seats 9 on the inner ends of the brick resting upon the tube 5, while the web 13 at the outer end of each brick rests upon one of the trunnions It will be understoodthat these trunnions t. are so spaced apartthat when the bricks are positioned thereon, the side edges of the ad j acent brick contact With each other, and the bricks are thus supported in a horizontal position between the side wall and the water tube 5. Owing to the transverse curvature of the end surfaces 11 of the adjacentbrick, there willbe provided, the open draft spaces indie 'tion shown in Fig. 5.

cated at 13 between each pair of contacting brick and the firebox wall 6.

When the tube 5 is spaced 13 inches from the side wall 6, the brick 8 are then arranged in reversed position from that shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and are also disposed at an upward inclination between the water tube and the side wall. Thus in this case, the curved seating surface 10 on the brick engages the water tube and the convex end surfaces 11 of each brick have a single point of contacting engagement with the face of the side wall 6 both vertically and hori zontally thereof as indicated at 15 in Fig. l of the drawings. Thus these convex surfaces provide two points of supporting contact with the side wall equi-distantly spaced from the transverse center line of the brick. Therefore, adequate bearing support is provided for the brick at its outer end and the possibility of its tilting or displacement out of alignment with the other bricks in the side wall will be minimized. The side brick of this form may be readily produced by means of a relatively simple mold. The new construction of the side brick above described obviates the necessity of carrying side brick of different lengthsin stock for the different spacings of the water tubes from the side walls as above referred to, and also provides a means whereby a more substantial support of the brick in either position will be secured. By the provision of a side arch brick of the above construction having a three-point supportbetween the arch tube and the firebox wall, greater stability and flexibility in the application of the side brick is secured.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, I have shown a slightly different form of the side brick, in which the end portions 11 of the brick which extend in the form of semi-circular curves transversely from the edges of the brick to its center, are not longitudinally rounded or convex as in Fig. 2, but these curved end faces of the brick extend at substantially a 90 angle with respect to one side face thereof. The same intermediate web 13 is provided between the end portions 11 for engagement upon the supporting trunnion when the brick is in the horizontal posi- Vhen the brick is disposed in the obliquely inclined position of Fig. 6, the edges of the brick at the juncture of the transversely curved end faces 11 and the side face of the brick bear against the side wall of the firebox. However, in both cases, since these points of contact are spaced apart transversely of the brick, there is a substantial uniform distribution of the bearing pressure of the brick end against the side wall.

In the foregoing, I have referred to the arch brick as being supported at one end upon the side wall of the firebox. It will however, be clearly understood that these brick may. be supported in a similar manner in either the liorizontal or inclined positions with respect to vertical. water tubes constituting the sides of the firbox, or with relation to the sides of an intermediate siphon, water leg or tubular wall or other spaced water evaporation members.

various other structural forms, and I there fore,do not desire to be limited to the precise details as herein described, but reserve the privilege of. making such changes or variations in the several parts, as may be fairly incorporated within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

1 claim 1. A side brick for firebox arches having a seat formed on one end to engage an arch tube and formed at its other end with surfaces curved transversely in opposite directions from the center line of the brick, said end surfaces being also rounded or convex longitudinally of the brick and presenting spaced points of contact with the side wall of the firebox when the brick is arranged in an upwardly inclined position between the side sheet and the arch tube.

2. A side brick for firebox arches having two transversely extending curved seats on one end. for engagement with an arch tube, said brick at its other end having transversely curved surfaces extending in opposite directions from the center line of the brick, and a web integrally connecting said end surfaces with each other, said web adapted for engagement with a supporting trunnion secured to the side wall of the firebox when the brick is disposed in a horizontal position with one ofrsaid curved surfaces at its other end engaged with the tube, and said brick adapted to be reversed and arranged in an upwardly inclined position with the other of said curved surfaces engaged with the arch tube and with said transversely curved end faces each having a single point of bearing contact against the side wall of the firebox.

A side brick for firebox arches having means providing a three-point supporting contact of the brick with spaced elements of the firebox structure,said means consisting of a concave seat on one end of the brick providing a single line of engagement with one of the supporting elements and spaced surfac on the other end of the brick each having a convex curvature both transversely and longitudinally of the brick and providing two spaced points of engagement with the other supporting element.

4.-. A side brick for firebox arches adapted to be seated at one of its ends upon an arch tube of the firebox and provided at its other end with two surfaces extending respectively in a single convex curve from a central plane perpendicular to the plane of the brick to one edge of the brick, and presenting points of contact with the side wall of the firebox when the brick is arranged in an upwardly inclined position between said wall and the arch tube which are equi-distantly spaced from said perpendicular plane.

5. A side brick for firebox arches adapted to be seated at one of its ends upon an arch tube of the firebox and provided at its other end with two surfaces extending respectively in a single convex curve from a central llflllQ perpendicular to the plane of the brick to one edge of the brick, and presenting points of contact with the side wall of the firebox when the brick is arranged in an upwar lly inclined position between said wall and the arch tube which are earn-distantly spaced from said perpendicular plane, and said brick being further provided at the latter end thereof with an integrally formed part connecting said convex sin" aces and adapted for engagement upon a supporting trunnion attached to the side wall of the firebox when the brick is isposed in a horizontal position between said wall and the arch tube.

In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name hereto.

JOHN MUHLFELD. 

